Device for applying sealing compound to closures



y 15, 1959 A. PODESTA ,ET AL 7 3,455,275

DEVICE FOR APPLYING SEALING COMPOUND T0 CLOSURES Filed Aug. 23, 1966 INVENTORS Armando P00725241,

Carlo Vi nai fl iazf A 1/: 4 4 95' United States Patent 29,6 0 Int. Cl. B05c 7/02; B05b 3/10 US. Cl. 118-317 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for the distribution of a sealing compound onto the internal surfaces of a closure comprising a support with means for mounting the closure in fixed position on the support and a distributor for the compound comprising a pair of plates which cooperate one with the other to define a distribution nozzle therebetween with one plate mounted for free rotational movement and the other plate mounted for rotational movement about the same axis with one plate being mounted for axial displacement relative to the other between open and closed positions whereby the surfaces are in contact one with the other when in closed position and spaced one from the other when in open position to enable the sealing compound to be extruded therebetween, the other plate constituting a driven plate whereby the first plate is rotated by the other plate while the plates are in closed position and which includes means for supplying compound to the area between the plates for centrifugal flow from between the plates into the closure when in open position.

This invention relates to the application of a jointing or sealing compound onto the internal surface of a closure or cap and it relates more particularly to the apparatus for the practice of same.

It is well known to make use of a sealing compound for effecting a fluid-tight joint between a closure or cap and the area surrounding the access opening for a container, such as the neck of a bottle. With circular caps, the compound is injected under pressure through a needle valve or nozzle onto the inner surface while the cap is being rotated. The quantity of compound injected varies by reason of variation in the viscosity or flow of the compound, depending upon temperature change or change in the homogeneity of the compound and also by reason of interferences to fiow resulting from obstructions of the nozzle by grains separated from the compound.

With a non-circular closure, the compound is applied by means of a pad. Application by such means is not uniform and it is not well adapted for automation.

Thus it is an object of this invention to provide a method and equipment for distributing sealing or jointing compound onto the internal surface of a cap or closure in a manner to provide for accurate control of the amount distributedto provide for uniform application in controlled amounts, which enables automation for continuous operation, and which otherwise overcomes many of the disadvantages of the described prior art processes and equipment.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear and, for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view partially in section of the device embodying the features of this invention showing the elements in relaxed or inoperative position, and

3,455,275 Patented July 15, 1969 FIG. 2 is an elevational view partially in section showing the elements in their open position.

With reference now to the drawing, the tool is mounted for rotational movement about its central axis 1.

The cap 2 into which the sealing compound is to be injected by the tool is illustrated in the drawing as 2. cylindrically shaped cap having a base portion with a skirt extending angularly outwardly continuously from the peripheral edge of the base. The cap is adapted to be held stationarily on a support 360 with its center coinciding with the axis 1 of the tool. In the event that the cap or closure 2 is of a shape other than cylindrical, it is located on the support 360 with its center as close as possible to the axis 1. When the cap has a center of symmetry, the center is situated on the axis.

The cap is adapted to be held stationarily on the support 360 with its concave side or interior facing the tool by means of a magnet, when the cap is formed of a magnetic material which is attracted by a magnet, or it can be held in the desired position on the support by vacuum or other conventional means.

The tool 3 comprises three sections, namely, a fixed section 31, a section 32 which is mounted for rotational movement within the fixed section 31 and a driven section 33 which is also mounted for rotation movement about the axis 1 and is adapted to be rotated by means (not shown) such as a motor, belt, motor driven gears or other conventional means for imparting rotational movement to a cylindrical section.

The fixed or stationary section 31 includes an upper casing 310 and a lower casing 311 having a central bore extending continuously through the central axis thereof and through which an elongate rotatable shaft 33 extends. A feed opening 314 extends laterally through the upper casing 310 into communication with the bore and the opening is provided with a fitting 312 for connection with a pipe through which sealing compound is supplied from a supply source to the bore in the interior of the tool. A base or stand (not shown) is provided for engagement with the stationary section 31 for support thereof in spaced relation to the support 360.

The rotatable section 32 includes a back plate in the form of a cylindrical section 320 which is contained within the lower section 311 of the casing and is supported for free rotational movement within the casing by bearing members 321, illustrated as being in the form of a pair of spaced roller bearings operating in separate races 318 and 319 in the lower casing. Depending from the backing plate 320, preferably as an integral part thereof, is a horizontally disposed machined surface 322 which is adapted to form a part of an outlet nozzle 323 for the sealing compound. The backing plate section 320 is free to rotate within the casing.

The driven section 33 includes the elongate shaft 330 coaxially arranged to extend through the bore of the casings along the axis 1. Means (not shown) are provided for positive engagement with the upper end of the shaft for actuation thereof in rotational movement. Such means may comprise a driving motor, belt, motor driven gears and the like conventional means which are well known to those skilled in the art. Fixed, as by screw 331, onto the lower end of the shaft for rotational movement therewith is a frusto-conically shaped plate 332 having an outwardly extending machined surface in axial alignment with and parallel to the surface 322 whereby the surfaces 322 and 333 are able to effect a sealing relationship therebetween when the one is displaced into contact with the other and for defining a nozzle opening 323 therebetween when the one is displaced in the direction away from the other to space the surfaces 333 and 322.

An annular space 342 is provided between the shaft 330 and an annular sleeve 313 which forms a part of the stationary section 331. The annular space 342 communicates with inlet 314 with the space 343 between the backing plate 320 and the conical plate 332 for the flow of sealing compound from the passage 341 of the fitting 312 to the nozzle 323 formed between the machined surfaces 322 and 333. An annular sleeve 313, carried by the upper casing 310, seals off the space between the casing 310 and the shaft 330 above the inlet opening 314 to seal off the end of the annular space. Gaskets in the form of plastic ring members 350 and 351 seal off the passages through which the compound flows from the inlet opening 314 to the outlet nozzle 323.

The rotational shaft 330 is also mounted for axial displacement relative to the casing to effect corresponding and concurrent movement of the conical plate 332 and surface 333 relative to the surface 322 of the backing plate in the direction toward and away from the surface between closed and open positions respectively. Axial displacement of the shaft 336 of the small amplitude desired, for the opening and closing movements, is effected by means of a plate 334 axially adjustable on the shaft 330 and adapted to be fixed thereto in the adjusted position for concurrent axial movement.

An inclined actuating arm 335 is mounted for rocking movement about a pivot 336 fixed to the housing and the free end of the arm 335 is provided with a hearing, such as a ball bearing 337, which rides on the surface of the plate for controlling axial movement of the plate 334 responsive to rocking movement of the arm 335 about its pivot 336.

Means are provided constantly to urge the plate outwardly into engagement with the arm for displacement of the shaft 330 and plate 332 towards closed position. Such means is illustrated as a compression spring 338 confined Within an annular space about the shaft 330 between the driving plate 334 and the sleeve 313 With one end of the spring bearing against the side of the plate 334 opposite the arm 335 while the other end bears against the end of the sleeve 313. Instead of a compression spring, use can be made of an air cushion, fluid cylinder and the like. i

The shaft 330 is adapted to be rotated by a driving motor or other driving means while permitting relative axial movement of the shaft between open and closed positions. One such means may be illustrated by a splined sleeve 345 having the splines on its inner surface cooperating with parallel splines 346 on the peripheral surface of the shaft 330.

The tool is first filled with the sealing compound by rocking the arm 335 to effect axial displacement of the plate 334 and concurrent displacement of the shaft 330 and conical plate 332 towards open position. This spaces the surfaces 333 and 322 to enable the escape of air from within the spaces 341342 as the compound flows under slight pressure from the supply source through the passage 341 into the space 342 to fill the tool. When the tool has been filled, as indicated by the appearance of compound between the nozzle surfaces 322 and 333, the arm 335 is returned to retracted position whereupon the spring 338 becomes effective to return the plate 334, the shaft 330 and the conical valve plate 332 to their normal closed positions with the machined surfaces 322 and 333 in contact one with the other.

In operation, a cap 2 is mounted on the supporting plate 369 and is retained thereon magnetically or by vacuum, as previously described. The shaft 33 is rotated to effect rotational movement of the conical valve plate 332. The resilient engagement between the machined surfaces 333 and 322, while in closed position, operates to effect concurrent rotational movement of the backing plate 320.

When the nozzle 323 is positioned alongside the portion in the cap which is adapted to receive the sealing compound, the arm 335 is rocked in the direction towards of the closure. Flow from the tool through the nozzle is not intended to be effected by the slight amount of pressure employed to maintain the tool filled with the compound. Instead, flow through the nozzle is achieved primarily in response to centrifugal force imparted by the rotating members. The rate of flow or quantity of sealing compound deposited will depend upon the rotational speed of the members and the extent of the opening that is provided between the machined surfaces, as controlled by the amplitude of displacement of the shaft 330 by the plate 334. Thus by regulating the amplitude of axial displacement, as by adjustment of the axial position of the plate 334 on the shaft 330, it is possible to regulate the period during which the plates are in open position thereby to permit control of the volume of sealing or jointing compound that is applied.

Displacement of the conical valve plate 332 from retracted to open position operates to disengage the surface 322 from the surface 333 whereby the backing plate 320 is no longer rotated by the conical valve plate 332 While the backing plate 320 will continue to rotate bv reason of its own inertia, the rotational speed of the backing plate will decrease progressively while out of contact with the conical plate 332. The differential be tween the speed of rotation of the conical plate 332 and the backing plate 320 and the decreasing speed of rotation of the later and its surface 322 operates to bring about a rolling action on the sealing compound located between the plates which improves the homogeneity of the compound and the distribution thereof.

After sufficient of the compound has been deposited in the closure, the elements are returned to their normal closed position by release of the arm 335 for movement to its retracted position. The coil spring 338 operates to return plate 334, shaft 330 and conical valve plate 332, to close position to seal the nozzle opening.

The closure or cap is removed and a new cap or closure is installed for the next cycle of operation.

It will be apparent that the elements can be arranged for continuous automatic operation.

Sealing compounds of various formulations may be employed, depending somewhat upon the intended purpose. For example, for aluminum caps used as bottle closures, use can be made of an alkaline solution of crepe rubber.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for the distribution of a sealing compound onto the internal surface of a closure comprising a support and means for mounting the closure in fixed position on the support, a distributor for the compound comprising a pair of plates in which a surface of one plate cooperates with a surface of the other to define a distribution nozzle therebetween, in which one plate is mounted for free rotational movement while the other plate is mounted for rotational movement about the same axis as the one plate and means operatively connected to the other plate for rotation thereof about its axis while the plate is in open and closed positions, said other plate being mounted for axial displacement relative to the one between open and closed positions whereby the said surfaces are in contact one with the other, when in closed position, and spaced one from the other, when in open position, means operatively connected to said other plate for axial displacement thereof from closed to open position, said other plate being the driven plate and the one plate being rotated by the other plate while the plates are in closed position, and means for the supply of compound to the area of said plates for flow centrifugally from between he surfaces into the closure when the other plate is displaced to open position.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the surfaces are fiat machined surfaces disposed radially of the axis of turning movement.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the other plate is'a conically shaped valve plate.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 which includes means constantly urging the plate towards closed position.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 in which the means constantly urging the plate to closed position comprises a compression spring.

'6. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the means Operatively connected to said other plate for axial displacement from the closed to the open position includes means for varying the amplitude of displacement between the open and closed positions.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for holding the closure on the support comprises vacuum means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner J. P. MCINTOSH, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 239223 

